Chapter 140
Harmonic Sword Jang Cheon. (2)
To explain a bit about Jang Cheon, the Harmonic Sword…
He could be considered the most ideal leader of the Murim Alliance.
As the leader of the Alliance, he managed to harmonize the various orthodox sects and clans exceptionally well.
After the Sword Emperor, Wi Hyogun, stepped down and Jang Cheon took the throne, it was clear that public safety had improved significantly.
When he first became the leader, there were many discussions about whether it was appropriate to appoint a relatively unknown and young martial artist in place of mentors like Shaolin’s Head Abbott or the Celestial Plum Blossom from Mount Hua.
However, in just a couple of years, his capable leadership silenced those concerns.
He was known as a perfect individual—gentle in character, yet a formidable martial artist.
At least, that was how he was perceived in society.
“I apologize for dropping by so suddenly.”
A handsome middle-aged man with soft facial features.
His slightly downturned eyes, instead of looking stern, gave off an impression of a gentle smile even when he wasn’t expressing one.
“…I greet the esteemed Alliance Leader.”
I cautiously knelt on one knee before Jang Cheon.
Seeing this, Jang Cheon quickly waved his hand.
“There’s no need for such formalities. I’m the one who intruded, after all.”
“How could I possibly disregard such respect?”
After all, he was the Alliance Leader.
While his martial prowess might not compare to the Celestial Plum Blossom or the Heavenly Venerables, the significance of his position was undeniably immense.
In terms of official authority, he held more power than the Four Noble Clans or the Ten Sect Alliance combined.
“I truly knew I should’ve called ahead; I rushed over and ended up messing up the formalities.”
He certainly appeared hurried.
The circumstances under which we met were less than ideal.
I suppose that’s where the expression “first impressions are everything” becomes relevant.
“I sincerely apologize once again for this abrupt visit, Young Master Gu.”
“It’s completely acceptable.”
While I met Jang Cheon’s gaze calmly, thoughts swirled in my mind.
What on earth was the reason for his visit?
After all, it wasn’t every day that the Alliance Leader would seek me out instead of just sending for me!
Several possibilities crossed my mind, but one stood out as the most likely.
To be precise, I felt half-certain it was—
‘The Dishonored Venerable.’
That was the only feasible explanation.
The recommendation letter that the Second Elder gave me.
That alone justified the Alliance Leader’s unexpected visit.
‘Still, I wonder if it’s truly enough to warrant him coming personally.’
Indeed, the name of the Heavenly Venerables carried weight, but would it really be sufficient for the Alliance Leader to come all this way to seek me out?
‘Is there an issue with the Dishonored Venerable?’
Just then, the Alliance Leader pulled something from his robe.
Upon inspection, it was none other than the recommendation letter I had brought, after all.
Oh, and by the way, I had already instructed the attendants in the room to step outside before our discussion.
I made sure to let Hongwa know that if I was late, she should go meet up with Gu Jeolyub and the others.
I also told her to keep Wi Seol-Ah’s hands raised until the meetup as a form of punishment, so Hongwa should be able to handle it.
“Young Master Gu, I intruded without warning because I wished to inquire about something.”
A slight tingle spread through my body.
As a sensation brushed across my shoulder, I steeled my Qi defenses and noticed a peculiar barrier had formed within the room.
“Did the recommendation letter come directly from the Dishonored Venerable?”
Just as expected, the reason for the Alliance Leader’s visit was indeed that cursed recommendation letter.
At this ridiculous point, I could almost envision the Second Elder tossing me off a cliff, all in the name of doing me good.
I couldn’t fathom how these messy situations perpetually occurred if not for such reasons.
“I did not receive it directly.”
“You got it from someone else, then?”
Huh, there was a strange undertone in his expression and voice.
It felt like I was being interrogated.
And it was definitely an uncomfortable situation.
Being scrutinized under investigation for no apparent reason? It felt like I was being treated as a criminal.
“May I ask why you’re curious about this, Alliance Leader?”
I attempted to sound as courteous as possible while keeping my emotions in check.
No matter how irritated I felt, I couldn’t afford to bear my fangs in front of the Murim Alliance’s leader.
[In the presence of the strong, you become overly meek… How annoying indeed.]
Knowing when to back down and when to confront was essential.
After all, life is sacred!
That’s one of the few lessons I learned from my previous life.
“…”
It seemed the Alliance Leader became aware of his earlier faux pas, as he cleared his throat and adjusted his voice.
“My apologies. I was too hasty and let my impatience show.”
That was quite the rapid apology.
And to think the Alliance Leader would lower himself to such humility before a mere young prodigy!
‘Is he acting?’
Was he sincere, or merely putting on an act?
It was still too early to tell.
The Alliance Leader’s apology aside, though, I was left curious.
What the heck led to this situation?
‘What was it that old man gave me this time?’
I thought he intended it for my benefit, but was there another agenda involved?
There was no way his actions were normal.
Before expounding, the Alliance Leader handed back the recommendation letter and said,
“Have you had the chance to read what’s in here?”
“No, I haven’t read it, Sir.”
I had no intention of peeking.
There was no need for it, and honestly, that would be considered quite rude.
Besides, I still held a degree of trust towards the Second Elder.
Despite the chaos he brought upon me, I believed his intentions were ultimately for my own good.
“Do read it.”
In line with his directive, I opened the letter.
The writing was quite crude, and only a few lines were written there—really showcasing the Dishonored Venerable’s personality.
These were the typical contents one would expect from a recommendation letter:
— I, Bijuu, have taken note of this child.
‘Since when did he take notice of me?’
The Second Elder even mentioned that this recommendation letter had been with him for two years.
During those years, I’d never laid eyes upon the Dishonored Venerable.
To make matters worse, currently, he had no chance to blend into the martial world at all!
The real kicker was the subsequent line:
— Even a lazy person like myself has raised this child sincerely, so you needn’t worry.
Huh…?
— This child will shatter the heavens someday. Feel free to anticipate that, as I will ensure it.
Something seemed off… extremely off, in fact.
The letter contained lines that left me utterly bewildered.
‘This…’
I didn’t get the impression that this recommendation letter was genuinely directed at me.
No matter how much I looked, it struck me that it was unlikely.
There was no way that the content could accurately refer to me.
Yet, the fact remained that my name was clearly written there.
It felt as if something unknown was unfolding behind the scenes without my knowledge.
An uneasiness slowly bubbled to the surface.
That ominous and unsettling feeling washed over me.
And the final line I stumbled upon was enough to take my breath away.
— P.S. I made good use of the treasure. I’ll send it through my disciple, so no need to cause a fuss about it.
Oh, hell no.
After reading that last line, I found myself looking at the Alliance Leader with trembling eyes.
I finally understood why I was embroiled in this situation.
“…”
Words escaped me, forcing me into silence.
‘This shouldn’t have been written here, you damned old man…’
That phrasing left far too much room for misinterpretation.
Especially since it didn’t seem directed toward me in the first place.
The Alliance Leader peered at me, asking,
“Are you, by any chance, a disciple of the Dishonored Venerable?”
“Absolutely not, Alliance Leader…”
The term “disciple” is utterly absurd.
I’ve never once met him, let alone trained under him.
While it might be a possibility in the future, as of now, it simply wasn’t true.
Had that old man truly sent me a recommendation letter meant for someone else?
What in the world was happening here?
I was left to bear the brunt of this embarrassing predicament.
If I could find a mouse hole to crawl into, I would gladly do so right now.
Moreover, the expression on the Alliance Leader’s face showed concern, matching my own troubles.
“…It does appear that the handwriting aligns with that of the Dishonored Venerable, but how this should be interpreted… I’m unsure.”
“Can we just pretend we didn’t see the recommendation part?”
I asked hopefully, given that I already held an invitation.
Surely pretending this fiasco never happened would be preferable to involving myself in annoying problems.
“Unfortunately, that won’t do. Regardless of how things play out, it was written by the Dishonored Venerable, and your name is clearly marked.”
“What about pretending it’s a case of mistaken identity…”
“Do you think anyone would dare impersonate a Heavenly Venerable? The seal and aura stamped on this letter ring true.”
His thorough examination of the letter left me utterly cornered.
How futile.
“I understand why you’re anxious, but if you say you’re not his disciple, then I won’t pursue the matter.”
Upon hearing those words from the Alliance Leader, I felt some relief wash over me.
My mind began reevaluating how to navigate this sticky situation.
“…But I merely wondered if you knew where the Dishonored Venerable might currently be, should you truly be his disciple.”
Could it be related to that treasure mentioned in the letter?
“Based on your reaction, I take it you’re not aware of anything?”
“…Yes.”
In truth, I did know.
I understood that the Dishonored Venerable was hiding somewhere out west.
And I even knew the reason behind his sudden disappearance.
But, of course, I had no intention of spilling the beans.
He’d probably just end up questioning the Second Elder instead.
“…I see.”
His expression was one of disappointment, as if he had just lost a lead, but simultaneously, there appeared a glimmer of relief regarding newfound possibilities.
“Is it, perhaps, due to the treasure that’s stated in the letter that worries you?”
The Alliance Leader paused at my inquiry.
“I am indeed perturbed by the treasure taken by the Dishonored Venerable, but that isn’t all.”
So there were other reasons.
That was good enough for me.
There was no need to ask further questions.
Whether he would answer or not wouldn’t matter, and it would only entangle me further in this web of trouble.
‘I came in with a specific objective; I definitely don’t need any extra baggage.’
Had I known that using this recommendation letter would spark such chaos, I would have simply left it alone.
As our discussion drew to a close, the Alliance Leader rose and said:
“I apologize for disrupting your valuable time.”
“No need for apologies, Alliance Leader. It’s been a meaningful encounter.”
“I’m grateful to hear that.”
Well, it certainly wasn’t the best meeting ever, but at the very least, I had to express my gratitude.
To be honest, the Alliance Leader was in no position to trust all my statements.
And for him to step back instead of pursuing a more intense investigation was quite unexpected.
‘It doesn’t feel as if everything ended on a high note, though.’
I sensed that some doubts still lingered in his mind.
There was a chance he might scheme behind the scenes.
After all, the Murim Alliance excelled at that.
The world was divided between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions, but many understood that the line separating the two had indeed begun to blur.
The differences were stark.
The Orthodox faction claimed ignorance as they sought to conceal the truth behind lofty ideals.
Conversely, the Unorthodox faction showed no hesitation.
Though the Alliance Leader had given off the vibe of a good-natured person…
I truly didn’t trust it all.
I didn’t know much about that individual,
But the uncertainty surrounding him was genuinely unsettling.
‘The fact that he’s that bastard’s father emphasizes my misgivings.’
Just the very thought of him ignited a fire of anger inside me.
The very image of his wretched face made me inadvertently grit my teeth.
“I appreciate you for taking the time to converse with me. I should be on my way now, so I bid you farewell.”
As the Alliance Leader turned toward the door, he glanced back at me and said:
“I was quite shocked when you claimed not to be his disciple.”
I looked up at the Alliance Leader, puzzled by his unexpected statement.
“Even if you were the Dishonored Venerable’s disciple, you’re astonishingly talented. But since you’re not… It surprises me, yet I also see this as the birth of a new star.”
“…Thank you.”
“When I saw your elder sister, I thought the Gu Clan had produced a tiger like the famed Tiger Warrior… But it turns out they were hiding an even larger dragon.”
It appeared that the Alliance Leader had accurately assessed my skills.
That hardly surprised me.
After all, he was also a martial artist who’d reached great heights.
But his words weighed heavy on me, instilling a sense of pressure that gripped my gut.
“I look forward to seeing your performance in this upcoming tournament.”
With that, the Alliance Leader stepped out of the door.
His presence faded away almost instantly.
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